title: [Processes of speech production: Analysis of the methods and applications in a group of normal subjects (I)].
abstract: The measurement of reaction times in response to suitable stimuli may provide insight into the separate functional blocks corresponding to diverse speech production mechanisms. The quantitative evaluation of speech motor performance provides useful information for the early detection and long-term monitoring of many neurological diseases. The vocal reaction times (VRTs) technique and its application in the assessment of a group of normal subjects is presented. Speech motor performance and the effect of age were investigated by measuring VRTs and speech duration, in a group of thirty normal subjects divided into three age groups (18-44, 45-59, 60-80). VRTs were measured by using an immediate and delayed reaction stimulation paradigm. Analysis of the acoustic and electromyographic signals indicated that reaction times increased with age in both the immediate and delayed tasks; also the acoustic signal durations increased with age. The analysis of variance showed that the difference between the young and elderly groups was statistically significant. This technique may be considered a useful tool to provide qualitative and quantitative measures of the processes involved in speech production.
authors.affiliation: Fondazione Salvatore Maugeri Clinica del Lavoro e dalla Riabilitazione, IRCCS, Istituto di Riabilitazione di Veruno (No).
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Colombo
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Spinatonda
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Minuco
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Miscio
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pisano
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pinelli
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004576:Electromyography; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology*; D013060:Speech / Q000502:physiology*; D013061:Speech Acoustics
vernacular_title: Studio dei Processi di Produzione della Parola: Metodi di Analisi ed Applicazione in un Gruppo di Soggetti Normali (Parte I).